Public financing supporters ~ We need phone calls and e-mails RIGHT AWAY to ensure a sufficient amount of funds for public financing in the November 2011 mayoral race. The full Board of Supervisors will be voting on public financing for the mayor's race THIS TUESDAY. The good news is that public financing IS being used for the mayoral race, and about $500,000 has already been given out to candidates! But since Ethics Commission current projections show the fund will run short sometime during the summer, there's a bill that will be voted on by the Board of Supervisors to add $1.3 million to the fund THIS Tuesday -- and it's important that you all weigh in to the Supervisors with your support. We are targeting specific supervisors: 1) Supervisor David Chiu has been a supporter of public financing and voted for this bill in committee, but he is receiving pressure to abstain from this vote. In order to strengthen his support, we'd like to generate some emails and phone calls to his office. 2) Malia Cohen also has been a supporter of public financing, both using it and even hosting a public financing forum. But she also is receiving pressure from the opposition, so we want to strengthen her support. Can you contact these Supervisors immediately? David Chiu (415) 554-7450 David.Chiu@sfgov.org Malia Cohen (415) 554-7670 Malia.Cohen@sfgov.org Here is the message to send them: "Thank you for your past support for public campaign financing in San Francisco. I'm hoping you will continue that support by voting for the current bill to restore $1.3 million in funds to the program, in order to ensure that there are adequate funds for this year's mayoral campaign. Public financing is a fundamental underpinning of a healthy democracy. It ensures a robust debate, in which voters' decisions are made based on the merits and ideas of candidates, rather than their access to wealthy special interests. Thank you for your leadership on this issue." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unfortunately, Scott Weiner, who has spoken in favor of public financing in the past, voted against this bill in budget committee. Carmen Chu has also continued her opposition to public financing. Opponents of this bill have said that we can restore the funding if and when it's needed, but it's already clear the money will run out sometime during the summer. Additionally, public financing funds should not be subjected to votes by Supervisors in the middle of a mayoral campaign, in which they and their friends are running. The closer to the election, the greater the conflict of interest. This is why we have always pushed for funding to be provided far in advance of campaigns. And why we hope to see the funding given as a set-aside in the future. Thanks, Rob Arnow San Franciscans for Voter Owned Elections